Hantsport’s Main Street going to the dogs - in a good way

The Barking Bean co-owner Glenn Deering with two of his rescue dogs Shay left and Timo. The location is still under construction, but they’re hoping to open their doors in early June. - Colin Chisholm

HANTSPORT, N.S. —

After the closure of a Tim Hortons franchise, grabbing a cup of coffee in Hantsport has been a tricky chore, but an entrepreneurial couple is hoping to change that.

The Barking Bean Café is planning to open its doors this June on Main Street, and there will be items available for four-legged friends as well.

Glenn Deering, co-owner of the business, walks through the site, where a contractor is working on installing the drywall. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s progressing steadily.

His two rescue dogs, Timo and Shay, bark at passersby.

“This is a unique cafe in that it’ll be a bit more than just your coffee and doughnuts kind of thing,” Deering said. “We’ve also got a second room that’s called the doghouse and we’re going to have a health food store for dogs.”

They’ll have a variety of treats and raw food options for dogs, as well as oils and supplements.

Glenn Deering outside the soon-to-open Barking Bean Café and dog food shop on Main Street in Hantsport. The community recently lost its Tim Hortons franchise, so Deering is hopeful Hantsport residents will make the Barking Bean their go-to coffee shop.

They’re also building a deck on the side of the building, which will house a dog-friendly patio.

“People can come in the morning, pick up their bagel and coffee and a raw patty for their dog and have breakfast together,” he said.

Deering’s wife, Virginia, is a partner in the café. She also owns and operates Diamonds in the Ruff, a dog grooming business in the community, and says the demand for canine-related products and activities has been growing in the area.

Deering, who is from Newfoundland originally, has been in the construction industry for approximately 20 years but has been looking for a new challenge. The loss of the Tim Hortons franchise and the growing demand for dog-related products and services presented an opportunity.

“We’re hoping this will show people that there are business opportunities here,” he said.

Deering says he’s hoping to source as much local product as possible, including Kentville-based Nova Coffee for beverages, and The Flower Cart in New Minas will provide baked goods.

Their dog food products are sourced from Totally Raw Pet Food in Halifax.

Glenn Deering and his wife Virginia at their dog grooming business, also in Hantsport, where they currently sell raw dog food products.

The plan is to open the cafe from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. They’ll be hiring on staff to help out.

“I’m taking resumes basically right now, I’m going to need help right from the get-go,” he said.

If things go well, there’s an opportunity to expand their footprint in the building, he said.

Robbie Zwicker, a municipal councillor for the community, was walking his cocker spaniel Sally when asked about the new café, and said he’s hoping the community will support it.

“When we break bread together, that’s how we become a community,” Zwicker said. “The great thing about Hantsport is that it’s fairly densely populated and people here want to be around people.”

Zwicker added that despite the recent loss of Tim Hortons and Scotiabank, the community remains resilient.

“With all of the major infrastructure at the school and the streets, build it and people will come,” he said. “When they stopped building wooden ships here, we continued on.”

He also credited the HMCC for having the vision to create a large, fenced-in dog park, which is visited by people from all over the Valley and has helped foster a dog-positive community.